Key container combined with a flashlight



April 3, 1951 F. M. DUNCAN KEY CONTAINER COMBINED WITH A FLASHLIGHT Filed Nov. 8, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A INP L wal a 11' TTO R NE 1 38 IAVEAIOR FOREST M 0UNCfl/V April 3, 1951 F. M. DUNCAN KEY CONTAINER COMBINED WITH A FLASHLIGHT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 8, 1948 INVEN'I'OR. EH53? M Dun/M JTTORNEY Patented Apr. 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY CONTAINER COMBINED WITH A FLASHLIGHT Forest M. Duncan, New York, N. Y.

Application November 8, 1948, Serial No. 58,940

(Cl. MO-6.4)

\ 15 Claims.

This invention relates to lighting and key holder devices, and has among its objects a combined lighting and key holder device comprising a generally flat housin in one part of which an electric battery-operated miniature lighting bulb is housed so as to project a beam of light from an end portion thereof, and one or more keys being held in an adjacent part of the housing and guided therein by a grip member between an inward position, and an outward position in which the key may be inserted into a keyhole illuminated by the lighting bulb, the key grip serving also to selectively complete an energizing circuit for the light bulb.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be best understood from the following description of exemplifications thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of one form of a combined lighting and key holder device of the invention;

Fig. 1A is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing another form of a device of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line 33 of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line 4-'-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the key grip element of the device of Figs. 1 to 4;

Fig. 6 is a partial view similar to Fig. 4, of a device of the invention with a modified form of y r Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, of a modified form of the device of the invention;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial view similar to Fig. 5 of a part of a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 9 isa View along line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 1 shows in actual size one form of combined lighting and key holder device of the invention designed for use with two keys, Figs. 2, 3 and 4 being enlarged views of the same device. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the combined lighting device of the invention comprises a generally flat housing structure In having an elongated light housing part II and an adjoining key housing part 12. In the form shown, the housing structure I comprises a sheet wall member shaped to form circular side walls 14 of the light housing part II, and side walls l of the generally flat key housing part I 2. In the form shown, the housing walls I4 and I5 are made of an elongated sheet member bent into the shape shown, with overlapping edge portions l6 of the sheet member forming narrow exterior side wall portions of the key housing part thereof. The bottom end of the housing structure is formed by a bottom sheet w'all member ll having flanges I8 shaped to fit over the lower edges of the housing wall portions l4, 15, the upper edges of the housing wall members [4, l5 having seated thereon an end frame member 2| having flanges 22 seated and retained over the upper edges of the housing wall sections l4, [5. The upper end wall member 2| has an opening 23 through which a conventional miniature flashlight bulb 24 projects light in outward direction, the adjoining portion of the end frame member 2| being shaped to form a rectangular opening 2-5 through which the keys held in the key housing space l2 are moved to an outwardly projecting position for insertion into the lock for a key illuminated by the bulb 24.

The elongated cylindrical space of the light housing part is shaped to surround an elongated conventional narrow miniature flashlight battery cell 27, the spring 28, shown in the form of a coil spring seated against a portion of the bottom wall I! of the light housing part, biasing the upper electrode terminal 29 of the cell 21 against one of the terminals 3] of the flashlight bulb 24, the other terminal of the bulb, which is insulated from its central terminal 3!, being formed by a conventional metallic sleeve 32. In a commercial form of the device of the invention, the housing wall members I4, I 5, I! and the spring 28 are made of metal, and the battery cell 21 is a conventional battery the side walls of which are covered with an insulating coating, and the metallic bottom of which is formed by the exposed metallic electrode of the cell. With such arrangement, the sprin 28 provides an electrical connection from one terminal of the battery to the housing I1, and at the same time biases the battery in upward direction so as to maintain electrical contact engagement between the upper central terminal 29 of the battery and the facing central terminal of thev light bulb 24, the glass bulb portion of which is held in the upper open end portion of the light housing part II.

The electric terminal sleeve 32 of the light bulb 24 is retained within an insulating sleeve member 34 seated in the upper end region of the cylindrical light housing part, an electric socket contact member 35 made of an arcuately bent sheet metal portion being retained within the interior of the insulating sleeve 34 to provide a connector leading to circuit-making and shown in Fig. 3, to the outward exposed position in which it is shown in Fig. 1. The device of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is designed to be used with conventional fiat keys each having a flat head or bow provided with a conventional bow hole which seats and lockingly engages a lock portion 45 of the griprnember 42.

Each grip member is shown further provided with a laterally projecting ridge or flange 46 by means of which the grip portion is retained between the flat outwardly facing surface of the "bow of the key Ligand the inner surface of the facing key housing wall section i5, so that as long as the key is biased to lie flat against the inner surface of the housing wall section l5. each grip member will be retained in a position in which it looks the key and is retained together with the key against the side wall section I5 of the key housing, with its grip portion 42 projecting through the guide slot 4! of the housing, in which condition the key may be moved between the retrac ed inward position or the exposed outward position.

In the interior of the key housing part I2 is also mounted an electrical contact member electrically connected to the socket contact part 35 of the light housing, and arranged for cooperation with an electric contact part of the grip member 42 for selectively completing an energizing circuit to the, electrically energizable elements of the flashlight bulb 24 and energizing the same to provide the desired illumination. In the form shown, the grip member 42 is made of electrically conductive material, and serves as one switch contact member. The other switch contact member is made of a metallic connector strip 36 extending from the arcuate socket contact portion 35 of the bulb socket, and provided with an exposed switch contact portion 31 arranged to be selectively engaged by a facing switch contact portion of the grip member 42 to establish a circuit connection to the socket terminal 35 of the bulb, the circuit being completed through the electrical contact engagement between the grip member and the electrically conductive side walls I5 of the key housing part, which in turn is connected through the metallic light housing part to the exposed bottom terminal of the battery cell 21.

As shown in Fig. 4, the metallic contact strip member 36 provided with the exposed switch contact 31, is insulated as by insulating layers 38, so as to prevent any electric circuit connection between any of its elements other than its switch contact portion 3! and any electrically conductive elements of the housing or enclosed in the housing. The insulating layer 38 may be made' by applying any conventional plastic insulating coating to the surface of the metallic strip.

The electrical contact member 3-6 is made of electrically conductive sheet material, and may be so shaped as to serve as a biasing structure which biases the keys to a position in which they lie flat against the inner surface of the key housing wall sections 15, and are retained therein in looking engagement with their associated. p

members 42, in which position they may be selectively advanced by the grip members between an inward retracted and an outwardly exposed posi tion.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6, an independent biasing structure is utilized, it comprising biasing sheet elements 5i extending through the central space of the key housing part i2, and engaging the inwardly facing surfaces of the flat keys, so as to hold them flat against the inward surfaces of the two key housing wall sections 25. In the form shown, the two biasing sheet metal elements "5! form two arms of a generally U- shaped biasing sheet member 52 of spring material biased to urge the two spring arms 5! there of in outward direction to press the flat keys against the inner surfaces of the housing wall sections [5.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the intermediate bent junction portion of the biasing sheet member 52, is bent into cylindrical shape so as to fit against the inner surface of the cylindrical light housing wall 114, and surrounds the battery cell space. This makes it possible to provide a simple biasing sheet structure which is elastically deformed to exert the required biasing forces on the two keys with a minimum of elastic sheet material.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the upper end portions of the biasing sheet elements M are separated by a slit 53 from the cylindrical junction section, to provide a tongue-like member overlying the exit region of the key housing space, the upper corners 54 0f the tongue-shaped biasing sheet elements 5! being bent towards the inner surfaces of the facing key side wall section 15 for guiding the stem of the key in a generally straight outward direction parallel to the guide slot 4| when it is advanced by the grip member from the inward to the outward position. However, as shown in Fig. 1, the stem of a key 43 held in its outwardly projecting position, may be tilted to the right or to the left away from its central position in which it is aligned with the guide slot 4!, if this should be desired or convenient when inserting the key into a keyhole of a door.

As stated before, the grip member 42 is in itself utilized to provide a switch contact connection for selectively closing or opening the energizing circuit to the flashlight bulb 24. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the grip mem ber 42 is shaped so that when it is actuated to bring the key to the outward exposed position shown in Fig. 1, it will not by itself make contact with the cooperating switch contact portion 3? for completing the energizing circuit to the flashlight bulb, for its bottom surface portion 6| is spaced from the facing switch contact portion 3! of the bulb socket connector strip 36.

As shown in detail in Fig. 5, to secure the desired switching action, the grip member 42 is provided with a contact-making pushrod 62 extending from a button 63 and guided in the hollow cylindrical space 64 of the grip member for making a switch contact between the botton end 65 of the pushrod and the facing contact element 6'! of the socket connector strip 38 when the pushrod is pushed inwardly against the action of a biasing means such as a coil spring encircling the pushrod and confined in the cylindrical housing space of the grip member 42. As shown in Fig. 5, the pushrod may be retained in its position within the grip member 42 by peening its end portion over the edge of the hole in the inward end of the grip member. 42 through whichthe pushrod moves into switch contact engagement with the switch contact element 31 of the socket connector strip 38.

However, as shown in the modification of Fig. 6, having elements generally similar to those of Figs. 1 to 4, the device of the invention may be provided with solid grip members 42-I generally similar to the grip member 42, and shaped to make contact engagement with a protruding contact portion 31l of the socket connector strip 36. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, as Well as in Fig. 6, the socket connector strip 36 extends only along the upper region of the key housing space so that its exposed contact portion 31 will enable energization of the light bulb only when the key has been advanced by the respective grip members 42, 42-4 to the outward position in which it is shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 6, the biasing spring member 5l! may be made in the form of a U-shaped spring sheet member, the intermediate connector portion 52-| of which extends along the border region between the space of the key housing part [2 and the space of the light housing part II, as distinguished from the construction of Figs. 1 to 5, in which the intermediate junction portion of the biasing structure forms an inner lining layer of the light housing part I I As shown in Fig. 1A, a device of the type described above may be readily constructed to provide a key housing part for housing a plurality of pairs of keys, the key housing part having a plurality of key housing sections l2-I cooperating with a common light housing section II, and constructed in accordance with the principles described above in connection with Figs. 1 to 6, so that any one of each pair of keys may be selectively advanced from an inward position to an exposed outward position, and the light bulb of the light housing part energized by the operation of the grip member to illuminate the keyhole into which the desired key is to be inserted. V

A device of the invention of the type described above may be readily dismantled and assembled without any tools. The bottom end wall member l1 and the upper frame member 2| aresecured in the position shown, by a press-fit engagement of their flanges with the edge regions or the housing wall structure I4, I 5, I6. Upon removing the upper end Wall member, and the frame member 2| from its seated position shown, the light bulb 24 may be removed from its socket, and the contact strip 36 with its socket portion 35 and the associated insulated sleeve 34 may be readily withdrawn from their position in the upper open end portion of the housing structure. The battery cell 21 may thereupon be removed or replaced from its position within the elongated light housing part II.

The U-shaped biasing structure 5|, 52 may be thereupon pulled partially in outward direction to the upper open end of the housing structure, in which position each of the biasing sheet elements 5! may be deflected in inward direction to permit removal of a key with the grip member held in the bowhole of the key, from its position within the housing.

The elements of the device may be assembled into the complete structure described, by following the foregoing procedure in reverse order.

As shown in Fig. 7, the device of the type described in connection with Figs. 1 to 6, may be readily modified to make it possible to turn on or energize the light bulb not only when a key is advanced by the key grip to the outward position,

but also while all keys are retainedin their inward position. To this end the device of the invention of the type described in connection with Fgs. 1 to 5 may be modified by merely providing it with an electrically insulated socket connector sheet member 3E-2 having a tongue portion shaped into a bulb socket contact member 2 similar to the socket member 35 of Figs. 3 and 4, and extending throughoutsubstantially the entire height of the space'of the key housing part l2-2, the exposed surface of the metallic sheet contact member 36-2 being insulated and having only an exposed elongated contact region 3'!2 facing the path along which the switch contact portion of the grip member 42 moves when the grip member is actuated between an inward retracted and an outward exposed position. With such arrangement, the light bulb may be readily energized in any of the positions of the keys, for instance, even in the inward position thereof, by merely actuating the push button 63 of the switch contact rod 62 to make contact with the portion of the exposed elongated contact sorface 31-2 of the socket connector sheet member 362.

Figs. 8 and 9 show another modification of the switching grip contact arrangement, which makes it possible to lock the grip switch element in the bulb-energizing position when the key is ad vanced to the outward position. A key grip member 42-2 forming part of a device similar to that of Figs. 1 to 5 guides a switch pushrod 623 having a push button B33 for bringing its switch contact portion 3 into contact engagement with a contact portion 313 of a socket connector strip 36 extending from the light bulb socket contact 353, in the manner described above. The switch contact portion 65-5 is separated from the pushrod 62-3 by a narrow intermediate rod portion 66-3 shaped to enter a narrow slot 38-3 formed in the exposed contact portion 3'l3 of the socket connector strip 38-3. With this arrangement the light bulb may be selectively energized in the outward position each time the push button 633 is actuated to bring its switch contact portion 65-3 into contact engagement with the exposed contact portion 3'l-3 of the socket connector strip 363, the bulb being energized and throwing light only as long as the push button is held down. If it is desired to leave the bulb energized after releasing the push button upon bringing the keygrip 42 to the keyexposing position, it is merely necessary to actuate the push button 633 to the inward position when the key grip is moved from the inward to the outward position, so that the slotted portion of the push button rod 32-3 enters the looking slot 38-3 of the exposed contact portion 31-3 of thesocket connector'strip.

Various other modifications of the invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. For instance, a device of the invention such as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 6 may be provided with one key grip member of the type described in connection with Fig. 5, andanother key grip member AE -i of the type described in connection with Fig. 6, for cooperation with an exposed connector strip contact portion 31 slightly bent from the plane shown at 31, so that the inward contact portion of the contact member 42l engages it each time the contact member is brought to the upward keyexposing position. On the other hand, the other key locked and guided by the key grip member 42', as described in connection with Fig. 3, will energize the bulb only if its push button 63 is 7 operated to engageiat its inner end the facing part of the contact portion 31, a portion of which has been bent to automatically engage the inner contact portion of the other grip button 12-i when the latter is brought tothe outward key exposing position.

It is accordingly desired that in construing the breadth of the appended claims they shall not be limited to the specific exemplifications of the in vention described above.

I claim:

1. In a combined lighting and key holder device for generally fiat keys: a generally flat housing having an elongated light housing part and an ad joining key housing part, said light housing part having an open housing end portion and being shaped to hold an electric battery structure and an electric light bulb axially aligned at its open end portion so that one electric terminal of the bulb makes contact with one electric terminal of the battery structure; an electrically insulated electric socket contact element positioned in the region or" the open housing end portion for engaging the other terminal of said bulb; said key housing part comprising at least one elongated slotted wall section having an elongated guide slot extending substantially parallel to the axis of said light housing part; a generally elongated grip member extending transversely to said slotted wall section movably held in said guide slot, said grip member having a lateral flange portion engaging the inner side of the slotted wall section and an inward end portion shaped to enter and engage the bow-hole of a key held against the inner surface of said slotted wall section so that by moving said grip member in said slot the key stem of the key is moved from a retracted position within said housing to an outward position outside said housing in which said key stem is exposed for insertion into a lock hole illuminated by said bulb; said grip member constituting the sole sliding element moving with the associated key and an insulatedly held electric contact member electrically connected to said socket contact element and having a contact portion exposed in the region of said key housing part facing the inward protrusion of said grip member at least in the outward position thereof; said grip member having an electric contact element electrically connected to the other terminal of said battery and arranged to make electrical contact with the contact portion of said contact member for energizing said light bulb when the stem of said key projects outwardly from said housing.

2. In a combined lighting and key holder device for generally flat keys: a generally flat housing having an elongated light housing part and an adjoining key housing part, said light housing part having an open housing end portion and being shaped to hold an electric battery structure and an electric light bulb axially aligned at its open end portion so that one electric terminal of the bulb makes contact with one electric terminal of the battery structure; an electrically insulated electric socket contact element positioned in the region of the open housing end portion for engaging the other terminal of said bulb; said key housing part comprising at least one housing section having opposite elongated slotted wall sections each having an elongated guide slot extending substantially parallel to the axis of said light housing part; a generally elongated grip member movably extending transversely to said slotted wall and held in each of said guide slots, said grip member having an inward end portion shaped to enter and engage the bow-hole of a key held against the inner surface of the associated slotted wall section so that by moving said rip member in said slot the key stem of the key is moved from a retracted position within said housing to an outward position outside said housing in which said key stem is exposed for insertion into a lock hole illuminated by said bulb; and an insulatedly held electric contact member forming with said socket element parts of a unitary integral metal sheet member and having a contact portion exposed in the region of said key housing part facing the inward protrusion of each of said grip members at least in the outward position thereof; said grip member having an electric contact element electrically connected to the other terminal of said battery and arranged to make electrical contact with the contact portion of said contact member for energizing said light bulb when the stem of said key projects outwardly from said housing.

3. In a combined lighting and key holder device for generally flat keys: a generally flat housing having an elongated light housing part and an adjoining key housing part, said light housing part having an open housing end portion and being shaped to hold an electric battery structure and an electric light bulb axially aligned at its open end portion so that one electric terminal of the bulb makes contact with one electric terminal of the battery structure; an electrically insulated electric socket contact element positioned in the region of the open housing end portion for engaging the other terminal of said bulb; said key housing part comprising at least one elongated slotted wall section having an elongated guide slot extending substantially parallel to the axis of said light housing part; a generally elongated grip member movably extending transversely to said slotted wall and held in said guide slot, said grip member having an inward end portion shaped to enter and engage the bow-hole of a key held against the inner surface of said slotted wall section so that by moving said grip member in said slot the key stem of the key is moved from a retracted position within said housing to an outward position outside said housing in which said key stem is exposed for insertion into a lock hole illuminated by said bulb; an insulatedly held electric contact member forming with said socket element parts of a unitary integral metal sheet member and having a contact portion exposed in the region of said key housing part facing the inward protrusion of said grip member at least in the outwardposition thereof; and a biasing structure having biasing elements tending to hold said key positioned against the inner surface of said slotted wall section; said grip member having an electric contact element electrically connected to the other terminal of said battery and arranged to make electrical contact with the contact portion of said contact member for energizing said light bulb when the stem of said key projects outwardly from said housing.

i. In a combined lighting and key holder device for generally flat keys: a generally fiat housing having an elongated light housing part and an adjoining key housing part, said light housing part having an open housing end portion and being shaped to hold an electric battery structure and an electric light bulb axially aligned at its open end portion so that one electric terminal of the bulb makes contact with one electric termia nal of the battery structure; an electrically insulated electric socket contact element positioned in the region of the open housing end portion for engaging the other terminal of said bulb; said key housing part comprising at least one housing section having opposite elongated slotted wall sections each having an elongated guide slot extending substantially parallel to the axis of said light housing part; a generally elongated grip member movably extending transversely to said slotted wall and held in each of said guide slots, said grip member having an inward end portion shaped to enter and engage the bow-hole of a key held against the inner surface of the associated slotted wall section so that by moving said grip member in said slot the key stern of the key is moved from a retracted position within said housing to an outward position outside said housing in which said key stem is exposed for insertion into a lock hole illuminated by said bulb; an insulatedly held electric contact member forming with said socket elements parts of a unitary integral metal sheet member and having a contact portion exposed in the region of said key housing part facing the inward protrusion of each of said grip members at least in the outward position thereof; said grip member having an electric contact element electrically connected to the other terminal of said battery and arranged to make electrical contact with the contact portion of said contact member for energizing said light bulb when the stem of said key projects outwardly from said housing; and a biasing structure having biasing elements tending to hold said keys positioned against the inner surface of the associated slotted wall section.

5. A combined device as claimed in claim 1, in which the contact member and its contact portion are located in a region of the key housing part which the grip member enters when the key is actuated to the outward key-exposing position.

6. A combined device as claimed in claim 5, in which the contact member and its contact portions extend through all parts of the key housing along which the grip member is movable.

7. A combined device as claimed in claim 6, in which the grip member is of electrically conductive material all elements of which are normally held insulated from electrically conductive portions connected to said socket contact element, the grip member constituting part of a movable electric contact element manually actuable to establish an electric contact with the contact portion of said contact member.

8. A combined device as claimed in claim 2, in which the contact member and its contact portion are located in a region of the key housing part which the grip member enters when the key is actuated to the outward key-exposing position.

9. A combined device as claimed in claim 8, in which the contact member and its contact portions extend through all parts of the key housing along which the grip member is movable.

10. A combined device as claimed in claim 9, in which the grip member is of electrically conductive material all elements of which are nor mally held insuiated from electrically conductive portions connected to said socket contact element, the grip member constituting a movable electric contact element manually actuable to establish an electric contact with the contact portion of said contact member.

11. A combined device as claimed in claim 4, in which the electric socket contact element and the electric contact member form parts of a continuous integral metallic sheet member.

12. A combined device as claimed in claim 11, in which the biasing structure comprises at least two biasing sheet elements extending through the interior space of the key housing part so that portions of the respective biasing sheet elements separate the contact member from the respective keys held positioned by the biasing sheet structure.

13. A combined device as claimed in claim 12, in which the contact member and its contact portion are located in a region of the key housing part which the grip member enters when the key is actuated to the outward key-exposing position.

14. A combined device as claimed in claim 13, in which the contact member and its contact portions extend through all parts of the key housing along which the grip member is movable.

15. A combined device as claimed in claim 14, in which the grip member is of electrically conductive material all elements of which are normally held insulated from electrically conductive portions connected to said socket contact element, the grip member constituting a movable electric contact element manually actuable to establish an electric contact with the contact portion of said contact member.

FOREST M. DUNCAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,972,879 Flintermann Sept. 11, 1934 1,972,880 Flintermann Sept. 11, 1934 2,393,373 Hendrix Jan. 22, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 530,249 England Dec. 9, 1940 

